Abstract
A modification of Merrill et al.'s method is described for determination of IgG in cerebrospinal fluid in diseases of the central nervous system. The following electrophoretic conditions for 10μl of nonconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid were satisfactory: current density of 60 mA, potential difference of 90 V, and electro-phoretic time of 90 minutes. Serial dilutions of a standard IgG specimen were used as controls each time together with test samples. In normal subjects the IgG level in cerebrospinal fluid ranged within 1.44±0.53 mg/100 ml. It was higher in multiple sclerosis, postvaccinal encephalitis, measles encephalitis, neuro-syphilis, meningitis and obstruction of the spinal canal, but lower in genuine epilepsy. IgG in cerebrospinal fluid in degenerative diseases and myeloneuropathy with abdominal signs (SMON) were within normal range. In brain tumors no constant IgG pattern was found.
IgG% (IgG concentration/total protein concentration×100) in multiple sclerosis, postvaccinal encephalitis, measles encephalitis, tuberculous meningitis and neurosyphilis was increased, but that in obstruction of the spinal canal remained within the normal range.
